FEATURE/Energy Company Offers Hot Tips to Cool Summer Electric Bills.

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Florida Power & Light Company urges budget-conscious customers to examine their energy use and associated costs when reviewing the household finances. FPL says energy costs can take a big bite from the household budget especially in the summer and in areas, such as the southeastern United States, where air conditioners are a major energy user.

To help customers reduce their energy use and keep bills down this summer, FPL offers an Online Home Energy Survey. FPL customers can find the online assistance at http://www.fpl.com on the Internet.

At http://www.fpl.com customers get a free, personalized expert analysis of a home's energy use, along with specific ways to save. A "what if" feature allows customers to determine how appliances and their lifestyle affect their electric bill and how even small changes can help keep bills down.

"Weather conditions play a big role in higher electric bills, particularly during the hot summer months," said Bill Hamilton, vice president of customer service. "And, there are other factors that contribute to increased electricity use such as houseguests and children home from college. So, we encourage our customers to take energy-saving measures."

In addition to online help with controlling energy use and electric bills, FPL offers the following suggestions:

-- Close interior drapes, blinds or other window treatments to reduce heat gain, especially during the hottest time of day.

-- Adjust the water level on your washing machine to best match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.

-- Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster and save money.

-- Use the auto sensor function on your dryer.

-- Plant shade trees on the sunny side of the house or building to provide natural shading.

To curb energy use even more, FPL says customers should:

-- Close interior drapes, blinds or other window treatments to reduce heat gain, especially during the hottest time of day.

-- Adjust the water level on your washing machine to best match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.

-- Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster and save money.

-- Use the auto sensor function on your dryer.

-- Plant shade trees on the sunny side of the house or building to provide natural shading.

Customers may also call 1-800-DIAL-FPL for energy conservation information.

Convenient payment options such as e-mail bill, electronic payment, automatic funds transfer and budget billing are also available.

Florida Power & Light Company is the principal subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE:FPL), nationally known as a high quality, efficient and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. With annual revenues of more than $8 billion and a presence in 20 states, FPL Group is widely recognized as one of the country's premier power companies. Florida Power & Light Company serves approximately 4 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, Inc., FPL Group's energy-generating subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.fpl.com, http://www.fplgroup.com and http://www.fplenergy.com.

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